Tank-refilling pump arrangements

ABSTRACT

A refilling pump arrangement comprises a refilling hose ( 1 ), and a pump ( 2 ) mounted at the free end of the hose which takes in fluid. This hose and pump arrangement can be stored anywhere, either on or off a vehicle or other machine that receives fluid, and when stored on the machine the hose and pump can be stored in an area that does not need to be adjacent the liquid tank. This enables space savings for the parts of the vehicle which have the most critical space demands.

CROSS-REFERENCE

This is a continuation-in-part of PCT/GB2006/004535 filed 5 Dec., 2006,which claims priority from British patent applications GB 0525134.3filed 9 Dec., 2005 and GB 0607849.7 filed 20 Apr., 2006.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to pump arrangements. Particularly, but notexclusively, the invention relates to pump arrangements used for therefueling of hydrocarbon fueled machinery that have movement costimplications. Such machinery is typically refueled on site from mobilestorage vessels such as barrels or bowsers that are carried by truck orother vehicle.

Examples of such machinery may include construction, agricultural orindustrial machinery. Off road vehicles such as diggers, cranes, andother excavation vehicles are generally refueled on site. These aretypically, but not exclusively diesel vehicles. Boats and other marineequipment also have refueling mobility issues.

The need to take these vehicles to a filling station is an inefficientuse of the machinery resource. Instead, such vehicles are typicallyrefueled on site from a barrel, bowser or some other such mobile orlocalized static containers.

To enable this refueling operation, the machinery is typically providedwith a pump which is mounted on the machinery, usually in a toolbox. Aflexible hose is stored in a tool compartment, and this is coupled atone end to the pump inlet, whereas the hose free end is placed in themobile container. The outlet to the pump may be permanently connected tothe machinery's fuel tank. The free end of the hose has a strainer,which is immersed in the diesel fuel within the container.

For some machinery, space saving and weight is of vital importance. Forexample, excavators that are designed for working in confined spaces (incities) are referred to as short radius or zero swing machines. Boatsdesigned for speed are weight dependant.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

According to the invention, there is provided a pump arrangement forpumping liquid from a reservoir of liquid to a vehicle storage tank, thepump arrangement comprising a hose having a first end adapted to bereleasably coupled to the vehicle storage tank, and a pump mounted atthe second end of the hose, the pump being adapted to be temporarilyimmersed in the reservoir of liquid.

This arrangement provides the pump for refueling or refilling of anothertank as part of the refueling/refilling hose. This hose and pumpassembly can be stored anywhere, either on or off a vehicle, and whenstored on the vehicle, it can be stored in an area that does not need tobe adjacent the fuel/water tank. This enables space savings for theparts of the vehicle which have the most critical space demands.

The pump may comprise a centrifugal pump, which is a well known reliablepump which can be made with no elastomeric moving parts, and isparticularly suitable for the transfer of hydrocarbon fuels due to itssafe dry running capability.

The pump is powered by a fully submersible electric motor which may becooled directly from the fluid being pumped.

The pump is preferably fitted within a primarily cylindrical housing atthe end of the hose, and this is sized to fit into the opening in astandard fuel barrel. For example, the housing can have an outerdiameter preferably less than 60 mm, and particularly less than a 2 inch(50 mm) BSP (British Standard Pipe) female thread.

A strainer can be provided at the pump inlet. A flow straightener canalso be provided at the pump inlet and these two may be combined. Thepump preferably comprises an electric motor, and electrical supply wiresare provided through the inside of the hose which protects them fromrough handling and abuse. A non return valve can be provided at the pumpoutlet. To aid priming, a valve can be incorporated into the pump toallow air to be expelled from inside the pump before use, but torestrict fluid loss during pump operation.

The pump and hose may be de-coupled (including electrical connections)to aid serviceability.

A shut off device can be provided for shutting off power to the pumpbased on the pump drive conditions. For example, the pump can comprisean electric motor, and the shut off device shuts off power to the pumpwhen the current drawn by the pump motor is below a threshold level.This can be used to detect when the pump is running dry, or if there isa blockage in the hose.

The invention also provides a vehicle having a pump arrangement of theinvention. The vehicle may comprise a fuel tank with the pump separateor attached to it.

The invention also provides a method of refilling a storage tank of avehicle, comprising:

-   -   coupling a pump arrangement to the tank, the pump arrangement        comprising a hose having one end adapted to be coupled to the        vehicle storage tank, and a pump mounted at the other, free end        of the hose, immersing the pump in a reservoir of liquid; and        controlling the pump to provide refilling.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

An example of the invention will now be described in detail withreference to the accompanying drawings, in which;

FIG. 1 shows a pump arrangement of the invention;

FIG. 2 shows a vehicle and a mobile tank to which the invention can beapplied;

FIG. 3 shows how the cable arrangement is installed into the hose; and

FIG. 4 shows a modification to the pump arrangement.

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

A first example of the invention relates to machinery such as vehicles,which are refuelled remotely from a fixed refuelling centre, typicallyusing fuel stored in barrels, bowsers (pumps for dispensing fuel) orother containers driven to the site of the machinery. The machinery mayhave a tank that holds 1000 liters (250 gallons) of diesel fuel.

Conventionally, a pump is mounted near the fuel tank of the machinerywhich is to be filled and connected via a hose. A hose is connected tothe pump and leads to the external fuel container for refuelingpurposes.

A first example of the invention provides a refueling pump arrangement30 (FIG. 2) comprising a refueling hose 1 connected to or inserted intothe machinery fuel storage tank 13, and a pump 2 mounted at the free endof the hose. The refueling pump 2 may be stored in the machinery cab Cand the hose is typically stored in a tool kit, either on or off thevehicle, when not in use. When stored on the vehicle, the hose can bestored in an area 34 that does not need to be adjacent to the fuel tank.

FIG. 1 shows a pump arrangement 30 that includes a hose 1 for submersioninto a mobile container such as a fuel barrel 12. In most cases themobile container 12 is transported to a mobile fluid location adjacentto the machine M by a vehicle indicated at V. The pump arrangement alsoincludes a pump 2 at the end of the hose. The pump 2 lies in a primarilycylindrical housing 6 which houses an electric motor 3, a pump element 4such as centrifugal vanes and a non-return valve 5.

A filter can also be incorporated into the pump. A flow straightener canalso be added to the pump inlet 7, and these two items can be combined.An air check valve can also be incorporated into the pump above the pumpelement or set 4.

The pump element 4 comprises a centrifugal element for a centrifugalpump, which is a well known pump suitable for fuel pumping.

FIG. 2 shows one example of the type of machinery which may use the pumparrangement of the invention, and shows excavation machinery M.

The pump housing 6 is designed to fit into the opening 36 in a standardfuel barrel 12. For example, the housing can have an outer diameter of60 mm.

A control panel 10 is used to control the refueling operation, once therefueling pump arrangement has been connected to the inlet 22 of thefuel tank 13. This connection provides both fluid and electricalconnection of the refueling pump arrangement to the fuel tank andcontrol panel 10. The pump housing 2 is submerged in fuel 11 in thebarrel 12.

The control panel 10 can provide automated control of the pump toprovide the required delivery flow rates and to cease operation of thepump when the tank 13 is full or when the container 12 is empty.

The refueling pump arrangement, including the hose and pump can bestored as part of the tool kit of the vehicle, and this can be storedanywhere on or off the vehicle.

FIG. 3 shows how the electricity supply cables 14 can be provided to thepump through the hose 1, although it may instead run attached to anouter wall of the hose.

FIG. 4 shows a system with an additional safety shut off device 20 thatis added to the automated control mentioned above, and which controlsthe power supply to the pump 2. This device can be used to prevent thepump running when the pump is not immersed in fluid, for example becauseall fluid has been pumped or the pump has not been inserted deeplyenough into the tank 12. This prevents overheating and can also saveenergy.

In the case of a centrifugal pump, the load on the pump is directlyrelated to the material being pumped. As a result, the current drawn bythe pump motor can be measured and used as an indicator of whether thepump is immersed in liquid or if it is in a gas (e.g. air).

By way of example, the motor may draw 8 to 9 Amps when pumping liquid,but draw 4 Amps when in air.

In this example, a current flow of 5 Amps or less provides an indicationthat the pump is running dry, there are air bubbles in the pump, orthere is no flow because the hose is blocked. By switching off the pumpin these circumstances, there is an energy saving, overheating isprevented and the lifetime of the pump may be prolonged.

A further switch 22 can be installed in the tank 13 to be filled, toprovide an indication that the tank 13 is full to switch off the pump.This can be in the form of a normally closed float switch.

The user control panel (10 of FIG. 2) forms part of the safety device 20of FIG. 4, and can simply comprise an on and an off button 24, 26, asshown schematically in FIG. 4. The pump can only be turned on when thereis sufficient current, and current overload can be protected by a fuse.

The safety device will switch off whenever the tank being filled is fullor the tank being emptied is empty. The manual off switch provides anextra user controlled shut off capability.

Only one type of machinery has been shown, but as outlined above, theinvention can be applied to many different types of machinery,especially vehicles, where space or weight saving is an issue, so thatthe freedom to detach the pump arrangement and choose where storageshould be will provide advantage.

In the example above, the pump arrangement is for refueling, but thesame arrangement may be used for pumping other liquids. For example, thepump arrangement can be used to pump water from a stream/creek to awater storage tank. This may be of interest for many different types ofagricultural machinery such as vehicles.

The arrangement of the invention provides the pump at the free end ofthe hose, namely as a portable fitting which is immersed in the liquidto be pumped on site.

There are various possible pump designs that can be used, for examplethe centrifugal pump mentioned above, sliding vane pumps or others.

Various modifications will be apparent to those skilled in the art.

Although particular embodiments of the invention have been described andillustrated herein, it is recognized that modifications and variationsmay readily occur to those skilled in the art, and consequently, it isintended that the claims be interpreted to cover such modifications andequivalents.

1. A method for supplying fluid to a first machine that has a fluidstorage tank, comprising: transporting fluid by storing fluid in amobile container while transporting said mobile container by movement ofa vehicle to a mobile fluid location adjacent to said first machine;moving a second end of a hose on which a pump is mounted, to and throughan access opening in said mobile container and into said fluid thereinso said pump is immersed in said fluid therein; with a first end of saidhose connected to said first machine storage tank, energizing anelectric motor of said pump to energize a pump element of said pump, topump said fluid from said mobile container through said hose to saidfluid storage tank.
 2. The method described in claim 1 wherein:supplying current at a constant voltage to said electric motor, sensingthe amount of current flowing to said electric motor, and when the levelof current falls below a predetermined level ceasing to supply furthercurrent to said motor.
 3. A method of refilling a storage tank of avehicle, comprising: connecting a hose first end to a vehicle storagetank of the vehicle and mounting a pump on a second end of the hose;immersing the pump in a mobile reservoir of liquid; and controlling thepump to pump liquid from the mobile reservoir to the vehicle storagetank.
 4. Apparatus for pumping liquid from a container to a vehiclestorage tank of a first vehicle, comprising: a hose having a hose firstend connected to said vehicle storage tank and having a hose second end;a pump mounted on said hose second end, with the combination of saidhose second end and said pump thereon being insertable into saidcontainer with said pump immersed in liquid in said container to pumpfluid from said container into said vehicle storage tank.
 5. Theapparatus described in claim 4 wherein: said hose has a second end thatis disconnectable and reconnectable to said vehicle storage tank; saidfirst vehicle has a storage area where said hose and pump are storedwhen not in use; said container is a mobile container and including asecond vehicle for transporting said mobile container to a locationadjacent to said first vehicle.
 6. The apparatus described in claim 4wherein: said container has an upper end with an opening that is capableof passing a round 65 mm hose and pump into the container, and said pumpis of cylindrical shape and has a diameter that fits through a 65 mmround opening.
 7. The apparatus described in claim 4 wherein: said pumpcomprises a cylindrical housing, a cylindrical electric motor lying insaid housing and occupying a majority of the cross-section of thehousing, and a centrifugal pump element lying at an end of said motor.8. The apparatus described in claim 4 wherein: said pump includes anelectric motor and a pump element that is driven by said electric motor;and including a shut off switch connected to said motor which shuts offpower to the motor when the current drawn by the motor is below athreshold level.
 9. A pump arrangement for pumping liquid from a mobilereservoir to a vehicle storage tank, comprising a hose having first andsecond ends with said first end releasably coupled to the vehiclestorage tank; and a pump mounted on said second end of the hose, andconstructed to be temporarily immersed in the liquid of said mobilereservoir.
 10. An arrangement as claimed in claim 9, wherein: said pumpcomprises an electric motor and a centrifugal pump element connected tothe motor.
 11. An arrangement as claimed in claim 9, wherein: said pumpincludes a cylindrical housing at an end of the hose and a pump elementcontained within said housing; said housing having an outer diameter ofless than 65 mm.
 12. An arrangement as claimed in claim 9, furthercomprising: a strainer and flow straightener positioned at the pumpinlet.
 13. An arrangement as claimed in claim 9, wherein: the pumpcomprises a pump element and an electric motor, and electrical wiresextending through the inside of the hose.
 14. An arrangement as claimedin claim 9, wherein: said pump includes a pump element, an electricmotor connected to said pump element, and a shut off device that shutsoff power to the motor when the current drawn by the motor is below athreshold level.